Edna Throgmorton Phelps peacefully met the Lord at the home of her daughter, Emily, July 27, 2013 in Memphis. She was 88, and long time resident of Paris, TN. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was married May 21, 1945 to Edgar Phelps and he preceded her in death March 28, 2013. She was a member of First Baptist Church and formerly worked at the Mitchum Co. and also Salant and Salant. During this time she met her husband Edgar Phelps. She was a wonderful cook and was known for her desserts. She was also a talented seamstress and enjoyed quilting and also playing the piano.

Mrs. Phelps, born in Henry, TN April 26, 1925, was preceded in death by parents, Knox Henry and Lucy Crews Throgmorton and two sisters, Betty Scott Lewis and Joy Sue Bruce.

Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St. - P.O. Box 788, Paris, TN. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday, July 29, 2013 and from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at Ridgeway Funeral Home. The Funeral service will be at LeDon Chapel of Ridgeway Funeral Home at 4:00 PM Tuesday, July 30, 2013, Dr. Trent Bullock will officiate. Interment will be at Memorial Cemetery in Paris, TN.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, 38105; or Alzheimer's Association, 825 Trousdale, Nashville, 37220.

Martha Story

Martha Crosswy Owens Story died July 27, 2013, at age 92. She was born in a classic white Victorian house with a semicircular columned porch at 611 North Poplar Street, Paris, Tennessee, on October 8, 1920, the youngest child and only daughter of John Anderson and Bertha Robbins Crosswy.

She had two brothers Paul and Earl Crosswy, 10 and 8 years her senior, who helped to raise and spoil her. When she was 5 her mother gave her a large birthday party where colorful silk parasols were given as party favors. She remembered thinking that “she would like to have a party every day for the rest of her life.”

She attended Lee School and Grove High School, and while there became the first drum majorette for the newly formed Grove High marching band.

On an Easter Sunday in her teenage years she remembered receiving two corsages from two admirers - one from Vernon Owens and the other from Glenn Story. She wore both on her dress, one on top of the other. Both men would become very important figures in her life.

She graduated from Grove in 1938, went to Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and later transferred to Murray State, where she majored in mathematics and minored in biology. Just before her final semester, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. She and Vernon Owens, her sweetheart, married on his 21st birthday, February 5, 1942, before he departed for basic training. Vernon served in Burma and India, and during his absence, Martha gave birth to their first child, Jayne Ann. Their daughter Charlotte followed in 1947.

Throughout the years she perfected her skills in sewing, crocheting and needlepoint – a wonderful way to outfit little girls – but none of these skills attracted her attention as much as playing bridge. Taught by Mrs. Sidney Mandel at age 11, she had progressed sufficiently by 1947 that she and other friends started a bridge club, which met regularly for well over 50 years.

In the 1950’s Martha decided to start a business. She was interested in how to help women improve their appearances with cosmetics and aid them with skincare solutions. So, she bought the first Merle Norman Cosmetics franchise for Paris, building a studio next to her husband’s automobile business. This passion for helping women continued throughout her life.

In 1978 Vernon faced an untimely death. She then pursued duplicate bridge and played in tournaments far and wide, while also maintaining her business.

One day in 1989, eleven years after Vernon’s death, she received a call from Glenn Story (of the corsage), whose wife had died the year before. They began dating, and in August 1989, they married at First Baptist Church, where they had grown up. They enjoyed music, dancing, and bridge – Martha’s absolute requirements in a husband! They had 15 happy years together before Glenn’s death in 2004.

She was blessed abundantly in her life with two daughters, Charlotte (Glen) Lake, who lives in Arizona near two of her three stepsons, James, Thomas and Robert Lake and their children and Jayne Ann (Frank) Woods, two wonderful granddaughters, Ashley Woods and Dr. Grayson Woods Brown (Russell) all living in Nashville, and two precious great grandchildren Grayson Jayne Brown (age 3) and Fred Russell Brown, Jr. (age 2). She was also blessed by her long and faithful friend, Minnie Bess Williams, who remembered her in every need for so many years. Someone once said, “Martha brings light into every room she enters.” She was full of light and joy to the end.

The family wishes to thank all of the staff at Morningside who loved and cared for her for 9 years, and also to thank the staff at Henry County Healthcare Center who loved and cared for her for the last 2 ½ years.

Visitation with family members will take place from 12:00 until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 31 at Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap Street, Paris, Tennessee, followed by services at the funeral home and burial at Maplewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, 313 N. Poplar Street, Paris, Tennessee 38242.

“Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.” John 11:5

Betty Belt

Betty Williams Belt, 83, Paris, died July 27, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at McEvoy Funeral Home, with burial in the Sulphur Well Church of Christ Cemetery.

She married William Belt, who died in 2011. Survivors include her daughters, judy Moon and Opal Wade, both of Paris; Barbara Kelley of Williamsport; and a son, Chris Hamilton of Paris; plus several grand, great-grand and great-great grandchildren.

Elwanda Singleton

Elwanda Sue Singleton, 70, Paris, died at Paris Healthcare July 28. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ridgeway Funeral home, with burial in Poplar Grove Cemetery.

She married Chester Singleton and he survives with a daughter Cindy Cherry, Paris; sons Barry and Lonnie, both of Paris; and Johnnie, Puryear; sisters Geraldine Lowe, Donna Goetz and Rita Barlow, all of Paris.

She formerly worked at Dana Corp in Paris and was a member of the Big Sandy First Baptist.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society, PO 22718, Oklahoma City, Okla., 73173.

Trenton "Sleepy" Ward

Trenton Ward, 86, Paris, died Wednesday at Henry County Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ridgeway Funeral Home, with burial at Rose Lawn Cemetery.

He was a WWII Army veteran and owner of Culpepper's Grocery for 16 years, worked at Holley Carburetor plant for 37 years, went to Cottage Grove School, nine years in the Tenn. National Guard, attended Bethel College and was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church.

Pauline Miller

Pauline Miller, 63, Paris, died at her residence July 23. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at McEvoy Funeral Home, with burial in Bevil Cemetery.

Survivors include her step-mother Emma Bartron, Pa.; husband Gerald Miller, Paris; daughters Malina Visconi and Loni Druffner, both of Pa.; two sisters and two brothers, all of Pa.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Paris.

Susie O'Dell

Susie O'Dell, 81, Paris, died July 22 at her residence. Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday at Ridgeway Funeral Home, with burial in Puryear City Cemetery.

She married Lawrence O'Dell and he preceded her in death.

Survivors include a daughter Mary Sue Gross, Paris; four sons Lawrence "Buster" Jr., Paris; Roy, Tracy and Kevin, all of Puryear; and several grand and great-grandchildren.

She was a member of Puryear Church of Christ.

Betty Garrett

Betty Garrett, 77, Cottage Grove, died July 23 at Henry County Medical Center. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Walker Cemetery. McEvoy Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

She married Bob Garrett and he preceded her in death.

Survivors include three sons, Leslie and Ricky Garrett, both of Cottage Grove; and David Garrett, McKenzie; and several grand and great-grandchildren.

Gerald Richard Griffin

Gerald Griffin, 77, Buchanan, died July 21 at his residence. There will be no services; the body will be cremated. Ridgeway Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Carol was Atherton High Valedictorian, class of 1955. She attended St. Joseph School of Nursing in Flint, MI and graduated in 1959. She worked as a nurse for a total of 42 years in both Michigan and Florida. She moved to Paris in 2010 to be near her son. Carol loved to cook and was an avid fisher woman. Memorials may be made to your local animal shelter or the Humane Society of your choice.

Service will be held at noon on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at Church In Paris (CIP) with Rev. J.C. Webb officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Rawls Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Bryan Morris

Thomas Bryan Morris, 82, Buchanan, died July 18 at Paris Healthcare. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Buchanan Methodist Church, with burial in Bethel Cemetery. Ridgeway Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Naomi Chilcutt, 93, Buchanan, died Wednesday at Henry County Medical Center. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 19 at Ridgeway Funeral Home, with burial at Mt. Zion Church Cemetery.

Her husband, Warren Chilcutt preceded her in death. Survivors include a son, Robert, Hopkinsville, Ky., and numerous grand and great-grandchildren.

She worked as food manager at Buchanan School for 17 years and was a homemaker.

Ree Russell

Ree Russell, 93, Eldorado, Ill., died July 16 there. Graveside services will be held at Poplar Grove Cemetery, Springville, at 3 p.m. Thursday.

She is survived by a son, Howard Russell, Eldorado; brother Connie Medlock, Michigan; and numerous grand and great-grandchildren.

She was a member of the Baptist Church in Eldorado.

Ridgeway Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Ivaleen Smith

Ivaleen Smith, 92, Paris, died Tuesday, July 16 at Paris Healthcare. Graveside services will be held at Henry County Tabernacle Cemetery at 1 p.m. July 17. Ridgeway Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

She married Carmen Smith, who preceded her in death. She was a member of the Apostolic Chapel.

Survivors include six daughters, Carleen Hickman and Betty Atchison, both of Paris; Sandra Hastings, Mansfield; Wanda Small, Indianapolis; and Theresa Woodside and Marty Kilgore, both of Buchanan; son Tony, Paris; and sister, Margaret Laster, McKenzie.

Tommie Lackey

Funeral services for Tommie Lackey, 72, Gainesboro, Tenn., will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at Anderson-Upper Cumberland Funeral home, with burial in John Clark Memorial Cemetery, Jackson County.

He was married to Nancy Long Lackey, who survives with two daughters, Lisa Brown, Loudon, Tenn.; Jennifer Austin, Whites Creek, Tenn.; several grand and great-grandchildren, three brothers, Terry, Pete and Joey Lackey, all of Paris; and three sisters, Thelma Key and Jo Heady, both of Gainesboro; and Galia Greer, Paris.